Leavenworth County KSArchives - Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery, History and Information

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Extracted from the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
National Cemetery Administration database dated 
15 June 2006 by Joy Fisher.

Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery
Hancock or Biddle Street
Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027
Phone: 913 758 4105
Fax: 913 758 1839

Fort Leavenworth, the oldest active Army post west of the 
Mississippi River, has devoted more than 170 years of service 
to the nation. During the country's westward expansion, Fort 
Leavenworth was a forward destination for thousands of 
soldiers, surveyors, emigrants, American Indians, preachers 
and settlers who passed through.

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Fort Leavenworth	
Cantonment Leavenworth

Fort Leavenworth, first known as Cantonment Leavenworth, was 
established by Henry Leavenworth on the Missouri River's right 
bank of Salt Creek 8 May 1827 to protect the western frontier 
and travelers on the Santa Fe Trail.

The post was evacuated in May 1829 and occupied by Kickapoo 
Indians until it was regarrisoned in the Fall of 1829. The name 
of the post was changed to Fort Leavenworth 8 February 1832.

1835 Dodge's expedition, on a summer tour, traveled from the 
South Platte down to the upper Arkansas by a route along the 
base of the Rockies, then followed down river past Bent's Fort 
to the Santa Fe Trail junction on the march back to Fort 
Leavenworth.

1845 Kearnys expedition journeyed from Fort Laramie southward 
to the South Platte, and then along the base of the Rockies to 
the upper Arkansas, followed it downstream, past Bent's Fort to 
the Santa Fe Trail en route back to Fort Leavenworth.

Fort Leavenworth had a vital role in the protection of Union 
interests in Kansas and western Missouri at the beginning of 
the Civil War, and was an attractive target throughout the war 
because of its arsenal. During the war Camp Lincoln was 
established on the military reservation of Fort Leavenworth to 
muster the volunteers coming into federal service.

7th Kansas Cavalry (Jennison's Jayhawkers) mustered in at Fort 
Leavenworth on August 31, 1861 (they were at Fort Leavenworth 
until about October 31, 1861). The unit had a terrible 
reputation at this time - lots of looting and murderous raids 
into Missouri. Captured and Exchanged at the battle of Little 
Blue (near KC) around November 11, 1861. Granted Furlough at 
Memphis, Tennessee on January 22, 1864. Mustered out at Fort 
Leavenworth on September 29, 1865.

Fort Leavenworth is the oldest permanent United States military 
post west of the Missouri River. The post is still operative as 
the 35th Infantry Division is stationed there.